Multi Agency Grants Initiative

Invitation to a dialogue on Rural governance, Land restitution, communal land, farm worker and farm dweller struggles, and land and agrarian reform in the Eastern Cape:

Date: 16th-18th August 2016

Venue: Chatha Hall, Chatha village, Keiskammahoek

Time: 12h30 start on 16th August 2016

13h00 end-time on 18th August 2016

Participants are cordially invited to attend a dialogue session and workshop on the state of rural governance, land restitution, communal land, and land and agrarian reform in the Eastern Cape. The dialogue intends to engage with recent developments in relevant legislation, policy and litigation in order to understand what has been achieved and what the challenges for civil society action are going forward. This will be done through the participants’ presentations and inputs – these inputs will create a platform for civil society organisations, traditional authority representatives and government to engage and find amicable solutions that can shape a future agenda on legislation, policy and litigation. The dialogue will be held on 16th-18th of August 2016 at the Chatha Hall, Chatha village, Keiskammahoek.

As an overview, the main themes for the 3 days will be structured as follows:

Day 1 – panel presentations by government departments and traditional leaders on communal land, restitution, pre-1913 land claims, and the Traditional and KhoiSan Leadership Bill (presentations by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department, the SA Local Government Association, the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders and the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa);

Day 2 – panel presentations by Eastern Cape rural civil society organisations on the above themes (as well as farm dweller and farm worker struggles) followed by commissions and strategy discussions aimed at shaping the way forward; and

Day 3 – panel presentations on lessons from past social justice litigation and discussion on key issues for an Eastern Cape litigation strategy on rural issues.

The birth of democracy in South Africa was premised on an equal, non-racial, non- sexist, discrimination free society, where political ideals and the rights of all citizens are protected and guaranteed by the Constitution. There are, however, a number of critical issues that continue to be unresolved amicably after the democratization and liberalisation of the South African political system. In particular, the land issue which remains skewed with the majority who were previously dispossessed and landless while the process of addressing these disparities continues to be slow and frustrating to the beneficiaries. Understanding the multi-cultural make up of South African society is imperative in the quest for political stability that depends on whether all parties, groups and communities within society have a voice that is listened to and heard.

The dialogue is aimed at creating a platform where organisations, individuals, government, traditional authority and rural communities are able to discuss their achievements, challenges and identify strategies to respond to their encounters in relation to rural governance, land restitution, communal land and agrarian reforms.

CO-HOSTS

MAGI is co-hosting this dialogue and workshop with the Legal Resources Centre, the Border Rural Committee, CALUSA, Masifunde and Ntinga Ntaba kaNdoda.

DELEGATES

We have invited our partners as HIVOS as well as about 20 other rural organisations in the province. We ask each organisation to send 3 representatives (two women, one man; two of these people must be under the age of 40). We aim for a total of 60 participants. Thus the need to submit the attached application form and book space early.

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation will be homestays in the Chatha village.

For organisations from more than 3 hours of travel time to eQonce (“King William’s Town”), accommodation will be provided from the night of 15th August in order to accommodate long travel distances. We request these organisations to arrive at the Engen/Wimpy garage, 100m from the Buffalo River bridge on the N2 just outside eQonce. This shuttle will leave from eQonce by 5pm on 15th August.

For all other participants, accommodation will be provided for 16th and 17th August. farther than 3 hours of travel to eQonce accommodation will be provided from 27th June until the morning of 1st July 2016. This will be for a maximum of 15 delegates in total.

Participants will be expected to transport themselves until eQonce. On 16th August 2016, there will be a shuttle to transport participants from eQonce to Chatha. This shuttle will leave from eQonce at 10h30 – from the Engen/Wimpy garage, 100m from the Buffalo River bridge on the N2 just outside eQonce. This shuttle will also take participants back to eQonce at the end of the dialogue.

RSVP

Please submit your RSVP confirmation, other enquiries and support requests by 16h00 on Wednesday, 10th August 2016 to Mkhululi Mazula: